Rajkummar Rao’s highly anticipated biographical courtroom drama, Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story, arrived in theaters on Friday, October 16, 2026. While the film has debuted to glowing reviews from critics—who are hailing Rao’s performance as an absolute masterclass—the critical acclaim has not immediately translated into massive opening day footfalls.
Caught in the middle of a highly congested box office weekend and directly clashing with massive pan-India releases, the intense legal drama has registered a rather slow start at the ticket counters.
Here is a complete breakdown of Prahaar’s Day 1 box office collections, the reasons behind the muted opening, and its chances of survival over the weekend!
Day 1 Box Office: A Slower Than Expected Start
Despite the compelling subject matter chronicling the 1993 Bombay Blasts and the 26/11 terror attack trials, Prahaar struggled to pull in early morning crowds. According to the latest trade reports from the Free Press Journal, the Avinash Arun Dhaware directorial collected an estimated ₹2.35 crore nett at the domestic box office on its opening day.
While trade analysts were not expecting double-digit openings for a niche, serious courtroom procedural, a start closer to the ₹4-5 crore mark was anticipated given Rajkummar Rao’s recent box office track record and the popularity of his co-stars, Wamiqa Gabbi and Jaideep Ahlawat.
The occupancies across major metropolitan centers like Mumbai, Delhi, and Pune hovered around the 12% to 15% mark during the evening shows, reflecting the film’s strong reliance on upper-tier multiplex audiences rather than single-screen mass circuits.
The Impact of the Box Office Clash
The primary reason behind the sluggish start is the intense box office competition. Prahaar was released right in the middle of a massive box office tsunami triggered by Superstar Rajinikanth’s action-thriller Jailer 2, which has been dominating screens nationwide since Thursday.
Furthermore, the film faced direct competition from Vijay Deverakonda and Rashmika Mandanna’s pan-India period epic Ranabaali, and Yami Gautam’s festive horror-comedy Nayyi Navelli. With so many high-profile, mass-appealing choices available, the serious and heavily dialogue-driven Prahaar found itself with limited screens and divided audience attention.
Will Positive Word-of-Mouth Save It?
Despite the low Day 1 numbers, the makers have a strong ray of hope. Prahaar has received phenomenal 4/5 star reviews from major critics, with Lalit Prabhakar’s chilling portrayal of Ajmal Kasab and Rao’s grounded performance as public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam drawing immense praise.
Films in this genre—much like 12th Fail or Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai—traditionally open low and rely almost entirely on strong public word-of-mouth to grow over the weekend. For Prahaar to emerge as a commercially safe venture, it desperately needs a healthy 50% to 60% jump in collections on Saturday and Sunday.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Day 1 box office collection of Prahaar?
Prahaar: The Ujjwal Nikam Story got off to a slow start, collecting an estimated ₹2.35 crore nett at the Indian box office on its opening day.
Why did Prahaar open to low numbers?
The film’s opening was heavily impacted by a massive box office clash with major commercial releases like Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2, Vijay Deverakonda’s Ranabaali, and Yami Gautam’s Nayyi Navelli.
Is Prahaar a good movie?
Yes, the film has received strong critical acclaim. Reviewers have praised its factual approach to the 26/11 trials and the powerhouse acting by Rajkummar Rao and Lalit Prabhakar.
Who directed Prahaar?
The biographical legal drama is directed by Avinash Arun Dhaware.
